Fireproof window



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-8heet F. VOIGTMANN.

. FIREPROOF wmnow. No. 600,186.

Patented Mar. 8, 1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK VOIGTMANN, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIREPROOF wmoow.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 600,186, dated March 8,1898. Application filed October 20, 1897. Serial No. 655,805. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK VOIGTMANN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fireproof Windows, ofwhich the follow ing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a window the sash and glass ofwhich will not be destroyed or seriously damaged by fire, but will be toall intents and purposes fireproof, and which will close automaticallywhen struck by the heat. Heretofore sheet-metal sash and easing havebeen used; butthey have been put together with solder or otherdestructible material, which melts and allows the joints to fall apartwhen subjected to heat; also, it frequently happens that the so-called Vfireproof windows, being adapted to open up under ordinarycircumstances, will be caught by a sudden outbreak of fire with the sashopen and therefore present no obstruction to the fire whatever.

My invention aims at overcoming these objections.

It consists, broadly, of a Window having a sheet-metal casing withclenched joints at its corners and elsewhere, which require no solder,and a fireproof glass set into the sash with metallic fastenings, one ofthe sash being hinged and held open by a retaining device which will besevered by the heat of a fire.

It further consists of details hereinafter more fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a front side elevation of my window closed, one of the panesof glass being removed to show the metallic fastenings. Fig. 2 is asectional view in perspective showing method of securing the glass andthe clenched joint of the front and rear portion of the easing. Fig. 3is a sectional view of the same not in perspective. Fig. 4 is asectional view on lines 4 4, Fig. 1, showing the joint at the corners.Fig.5 is a section on lines 5 5, Fig. 1, looking down. Fig. 6 is a rearside elevation, the upper sash being open and one pane being removedfrom both upper and lower sash. Fig. 7 is a section on lines 7 7, Fig.6.

A represents the casing; B, the surrounding masonry; O, the glass; D D,the sash;

E, the lugs which secure the glass; F F, the drip-passages; G, the stripwhich forms the gutter; H, the sill; I, the joints at the corners J, therivets; K, the joints between the front and back of the casing; L, theswingin g sash; M, the retaining-chain; N, the fusible link; 0, the hookwhich the chain is attached to; P, the pivot that the sash swings on; Q,the latch; R, the flange which forms a drip-gutter for the upper sash;S, the flange on upper edge of the upper sash.

The casing and sash are constructed entirely of sheet metal orgalvanized iron.

The casing is joined at its four corners at I by clenched joints, (shownin Fig. 4,) the edges being lapped and curled under and clenchedtogether and then preferably riveted by the rivets J This makes a verysecure joint and does away with the necessity of soldering. The rivets Jmay be dispensed with, if preferred, as the joint is quite securewithout them. By a similar joint the front and back of the casing areunited at K, only that the rivets are not necessary here.

The glass is set in the sash and secured by the lugs E, which areattached to or are a part of the sash and which are turned down upon it.Fig. l'shows one pane removed and the lugs turned down, as when securingthe glass in place. In Figs. 2 and 3 they are shown before being turneddown. Putty may be put on over them in the usual manner to make anair-tight joint; but in case of fire and the putty falls off the glasswill be held by the lugs E.

The panes of glass are preferably of what I is known as wire-glass,glass having a wire mesh running through it which makes itindestructible by ordinary fire; but other glass or different materialmay of course be used if capable of resisting heat.

In order to provide for the water of condensation which collectsparticularly on metallic casings and sash, I form drip-passages F F atthe bottom of the lower panes, which extend under the edge of the panesand open on the outside, and I run a strip G across the lower edge onthe inside of the casing to form a gutter to catch the moisture andcarry it out through the passages F F. The drip from the upper sash iscaught by the strip R across the back, which forms a gutter, the middlerail of the sash being sulficiently sloped to allow the water to run outbet-ween it and the upper sash. In the same manner the water is shed bythe strip S on the upper edge of the swinging sash.

The swinging sash L is pivoted at P and held open bythe chain M,attached to its upper edge and to the hook O. A fusible link N isinserted in the chain at a point where it will be most exposed in caseof fire on the outside and the window open. As soon as the fire reachesthe fusible link it is melted and the window drops closed, the pivot Pbeing above the center, the weight of the lower portion of the sashbeing sulficient to cause it to close.

The latch Q engages the lower edge of the sash when it drops, and thesash is thereby locked shut.

The fusible link N is preferably made of two strips of metal solderedtogether by some fusible alloy which melts on exposure to unusual heatand allows the parts to drop apart; but in place of this link any otherdestructible connection which is inflammable or readily destroyed byheat or fire may be used. Thus, it will be seen, in case of sudden fire,where the windows are left open, that as soon as the fire strikes thechain the link N will be broken and the windows automatically closed.

hat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described fireproof window,

consisting of the combination of the sheetmetal casing A, having theclenched joints I at its corners, the metallic sash D having the pliablemetallic lugs E for securing the glass, and the fireproof glass 0; allsubstantially as shown and described.

2. The herein-described fireproof window, consisting of the combinationof the sheetmetal casing A, having the clenched joints I at its corners,and the clenched joint K between its front and back; the metallic sash'D, having the pliable metallic lugs E, and the fireproof glass 0; allsubstantially as shown and described.

3. The herein-described fireproof window, consisting of the combinationof the sheetmetal casing A, having the clenched joints I at its corners,and the rivets J in said joints, the metallic sash D, having the pliablemetallic lugs E, and the fireproof glass 0; all substantially as shownand described.

4. The herein-described fireproof window, consisting of the combinationof the sheetmetal casing A, having the clenched joints I at its corners,the metallic sash D having the pliable metallic lugs E, the fireproofglass 0, the drip-passage F and the strip G; all substantially as shownand described.

5. In a fireproof window, the herein-described automatically-closingsash, consisting of the combination of the fireproof casing A, thefireproof sash L pivoted therein, the destructible retaining device M,N, by which said sash is held open; all substantially as shown anddescribed.

6. In a fireproof window, the herein-described automatically-closingsash, consisting of the combination of the fireproof casing A, thefireproof sash L pivoted therein, the retaining-chain M, having thefusible link N therein; all substantially as shown and described.

7. In a fireproof window, the herein-described autom atically-closin gsash, consisting of the combination of the fireproof casing A, thefireproof sash L pivoted therein at a pivot P above its middle, theretaining-chain M, having the fusible link N therein at a point oppositethe opening; all substantially as shown and described.

FRANK VOIGTMANN.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. HOLLAND, LoUIs V. LE MoYNE.

6QO,l86.'-Fmnk Voightmann, Chicago, Ill. FIREPRooF WINDOWS. Patent datedMarch 8, 1898. Disclaimer filed February 18, 1907, by the patentee andassignee.

Enters their disclaimer- To that part of the specification and claimswhich are in the following words, to

Wit:

Page 1, commencing in line 13 Heretofore sheet-metal sash and easinghave been used; but they have been put together with solder or otherdestructible material, which melts and allows the joints to fall apartwhen subjected to heat; also, it frequently happens that the so-calledfireproof windows, being adapted to open up under ordinarycircumstances, will be caught by a sudden outbreak of fire with the sashopen and therefore present no obstruction to the fire whatever.

My invention aims at overcoming these objections.

Page 2, commencing in line 24 but inplace of this link any otherdestructible connection which is inflammable or readily destroyed byheat or fire may be used.

Also claims 1, 2, 3, and 4, reading as follows: 7

51. The herein-described fireproof window, consisting of the combinationof the sheet-metal casing A, having the clenched joints I at itscorners, the metallic sash D having the pliable metallic lugs E forsecuring the glass, and the fireproof. glass C; all substantially asshown and described.

' 2. The herein-described fireproof window, consisting of thecombination of the sheet-metal casing A, having the clenched joints I atits corners, and the clenchedjoint K between its front and back; themetallic sash D, having the pliable metallic lugs E, and the fireproofglass C all substantially as shown and described.

I 3. The herein-described fireproof window, consisting of thecombination of the sheet-metal casing A, having the clenched joints I atits corners, and the rivets J in said joints, the metallic sash D,having the pliable metallic lugs E, and the fireproof glass 0; allsubstantially as shown and described. I

4. The herein-described fireproof window, consisting of the combinationof the sheet-metal casing A, having the clenched joints I at itscorners, the metallic sash D having the pliable metallic lugs E, thefireproof glass 0, the drip-passage F and the strip G; all substantiallyas shown and described. [Ofiicial Gazette, February 26, 1.907.]

